At just 24, Yastika Bhatia, India’s stylish wicket-keeper batter, finds herself grappling with one of the toughest stretches of her young career. Once seen as the natural heir to India’s wicket-keeping duties in white-ball cricket, the left-hander has endured an unfortunate run since late 2024, battling injuries, loss of momentum, and extended spells on the sidelines.
Her latest setback, a left knee injury sustained during India’s preparatory camp in Visakhapatnam, has ruled her out of the high-stakes ODI series against Australia (14th–20th September 2025) and, more crushingly, the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 (30th September–2nd November). For a player looking to regain ground in India’s plans, the timing could not have been harsher.
Yastika’s career, since debuting in September 2021, has reflected resilience and adaptability. In 28 ODIs, she has scored 666 runs at an average of 24.66 and a strike rate of 73.02, including four half-centuries. Her standout performance came in just her third match on 26th September 2021 at Mackay against Australia, where she scored a fluent 64 (69), studded with nine boundaries, leading India to a thrilling 2-wicket win.
Her Test record, 98 runs in three matches with a highest of 66 and her 214 T20I runs across 19 matches may not scream dominance but do highlight her versatility and willingness to adapt across formats. On the domestic circuit too, Yastika has been a consistent run-getter, underlining her value in India’s batting depth.
The first major blow came in November 2024 during the WBBL 10 season in Australia. After just two or three appearances, a fractured wrist cut short her tournament and forced her out of India’s home ODI series against Australia in December 2024. That absence not only cost her crucial exposure but also opened doors for competitors in a role as specialised as wicketkeeper-batter.
Her return took longer than expected. Although named in squads subsequently, circumstances never went in her favour:
- West Indies series: Ruled out due to a wrist injury
- Ireland series: Rested, as the team experimented with younger batters
- Sri Lanka Tri-Series: Part of the squad but not in the playing XI
- England tour: Again, included in both squads, but did not feature in a single game
Just as she was beginning to put those frustrations behind her with dominant performances for India A earlier this year, scoring 167 runs at 55.66 in a three-match series against Australia, including two half-centuries, the cruel twist of fate came in the form of a knee injury in September 2025.
Even amid setbacks, her domestic red-ball and one-day figures remain a reminder of her batting pedigree:
Senior Women’s ODI Challenger Trophy (2024-25): 156 runs at 39.00 with two fifties
Multi-Day Challenger Trophy: 206 runs at 34.33, again with two half-centuries
India A vs Australia (2025): Leading run-scorer for India A, second for the full series (167 runs, SR 85.64, avg 55.66)
This steady accumulation of runs underlines Yastika’s strength as a reliable top-order batter, solid against seam, composed in spin battles, and capable of holding an innings together even under pressure. Crucially, her left-handedness provides balance to a predominantly right-hand-heavy Indian batting order, a factor selector have frequently acknowledged.
Yastika’s absence in the upcoming ODI World Cup leaves a noticeable gap in India’s setup. She is not just a wicketkeeper who can bat; she is a proper top-order option whose ability to anchor innings eases pressure from stroke-makers around her. With Uma Chetry now replacing her, India has opted for youth, but the experience and composure Yastika brings, especially in chasing scenarios, will be difficult to replicate. For a team still fine-tuning its middle-order consistency, this absence could be felt deeply in tight games against high-quality attacks.
For Yastika Bhatia, the time ahead will be about recovery and rediscovery. At only 24, time is on her side, but injuries, wrist and now knee, force a sobering reality: the competition for places in the Indian side is fiercer than ever. Rising keepers like Uma Chetry are eager to make their mark, and India’s management has shown a readiness to back youngsters for big assignments.
The memories of Mackay 2021 still linger, a reminder of her match-winning grit, but for Yastika, the challenge now is not just about breaking into India’s playing XI; it’s about proving her fitness, resilience, and ability to restart momentum from scratch.
In women’s cricket, phases like these often define careers. For Yastika Bhatia, the last ten months have been a cruel test of patience. From a blossoming international campaign to an enforced break just ahead of the biggest tournament of her career, her journey encapsulates the brutal unpredictability of sport. Yet, with her talent, technique, and mental fortitude well-documented, few doubt she can script a strong comeback once fully fit.
